Saturday, August 4, 2012

Editor Panel: Laura Godwin

Laura Godwin is Vice President and Publisher of Henry Holt
Books for Young Readers, where she has worked for over twenty years.

Laura spoke first, giving a broad view of what she thinks voice is. She says that voice is what makes an author unique. It's often equated
with style, but it’s not the same thing as stylish. Style is a reflection of
who you are. A person can hone their voice as they get to know themselves as a writer or
illustrator better.

Laura says that successful authors know that there is usually more
than one way to do something. They are the most flexible people, even though they typically
have the strongest points of view.

When asked about the digital market, Laura said that there is always a place for physical books. Even if the
paper is downgraded or changed, so what. It’s about the story. Let’s focus on that.